Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-05
WESTERN PIONEERS.

WESTERN PIONEERS.
Soms Of the H.rdships Experieuoed by
the Early Settlers Of Oregon.
The many hardships and privations
endured by the early settlers Of Oregon
have in some measure a counterpart in
every new country. but in several re-
spects their trials were more severe
than common to pioneer life, as may
be seen by the following extract from
Hubert Howe Bancroft's History Of
Oregon. lately published:
"Game was scarce and poor. In
the winter wild fowl were numerous.
but the lakes and bayous to which they
-esorted were distant and difficult of
approach. and the settlers soon learned
not to depend on either wild game or
wild fruit. Had they given their time
to procuring these supplies they could
have done nothing else. The sudden
accession to the population raised the
price o. flour to four cents a pound.
pork ten cents. and other articles in
proportion. Indeed. so hard was it to
get enough to eat without going hope
lessly in debt, that an Indian, who had
come to Arplegate's to beg. was moved
with pity to divide his own slender
store of dried venison with the hungry
children.
"In the matter of clothing there was
the same restitution. Fortunate was
the man possessed of 4 suit of dressed
buckskin. for when the homespun suits
which left Missouri were worn out
there were no others to take their
place. The women made dresses out
of wagon-covers. and some wore skin
clothing like the men. Moccasins took
the place of boots and shoes. Happy
was he who had an order on either of
the three merchants of Oregon City
Ermatinger, Abernethy or Pettygrove
although when it was presented the
dearth of goods at the American stores
often obliged him to take something
he did not want for the thing he need
ed, the usual demand having exhausted
the stock in these places.
1.-THE circulating medium of the
country, as established by the fur COM
pany, being either furs or wheat. was
serious Inconvenience. The custom
of the settlers was to deposit with the
merchants a quantity of wheat, which
represented so many dollars to their
credit. Orders on merchants then be-
came the medium of payment for labor
or property. Should the merchants
stock be low the holder of the order
either took what he could get or else
waited. None but the Hudson's Bay
Company kept an assortment of gener-
al merchandise. Vessels from Boston
and New York were freighted with |!
goods of one or two classes, while |!
from the islands only few articles |
could be obtained. There were silly |
MISUNDERSTANDING patriots. they
imagined themselves-whO,t to encOur- |
age American and discourage British !
trade. would have nothing to do with |
the company, and these were put to |
severe tests. Sometimes it was sugar,
tea. coffee or salt they had to do with
out; and again not yard of cotton
goods or ha!f-dozen cups and saucers
could be obtained. This being the con-
dition of the market in Oregon City. if |
a man required certain article he
must take furs or wheat to Vancouver
or he must ask credit at that place ill
a crop could be raised; but if the stock
of the current ve,r wac olro,Iv nv
hausted the rules of the company did
not allow opening the next years stock
before the arrival of the annual sup
plies. lest by the loss of vessel there
should be dearth in the country for
a long period. Chicago News